Matt Schrimpf
https://www.luxurylakehome.com/blog/the-shootout-offshore-2026

The Shootout Offshore, 2026

Posted By: Matt Schrimpf In:
Date: Thu, Jun 18th 2026 11:08 am

Boat racing is probably the Lake's most iconic sport, with fishing tight on its heels (although golf has certainly been making a strong case for itself lately- see our thoughts in our last post, here). It's hard to argue otherwise, in no small part thanks to the biggest Lake tradition of the year for 38 years running. I'm speaking, of course, of the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout, an event that, to many, is the headlining act of the whole Lake area when it starts up every summer. Though the title race isn't until August, the festivities are an affair for the entire season, and this past weekend, we had the first major race of Shootout season kick things off the right way, with incredible speeds, impressive victories, and a fair share of catastrophes that managed to avoid becoming tragedies- at least, in terms of human loss. 

There are a couple boats that are going to need some medical attention. 

THE LAKE OF THE OZARKS SHOOTOUT OFFSHORE

The birth of modern racing sports as we know it started in the era of Prohibition, with liquor runners modifying stock cars to out-speed police vehicles. The roots of speed competition have always had a rebellious, wild flair to them, a kind of defiant spirit that the Shootout captures for many fans and racers- it's no wonder that some of the biggest names will turn down sanctioned events to make sure they can make it here in August. The Lake of the Ozarks Shootout is the largest unsanctioned boat race in the nation, a grand, elaborate show of skill and engineering that, nevertheless, stays out from under the eyes of the sport's authorities and guidelines. There's a romance to it- even with its growth and success, it keeps that independence, that free, outlaw spirit that started it all. Yet, in spite of that, the cause remains the focus- raising money for first responders. 

Outlaw charity. Robin Hood would be proud. 

Back in 2023, the Shootout Board made a move that consolidated the Midwest powerboat racing scene under its own charitable umbrella by bringing the other major LOTO local boat race under its purview- an event by the International Hot Rod Association formerly called, simply, Lake Race. Now known as Shootout Offshore, it may be the first major test of skill each summer, but a win there is no less prestigious than the Top Gun spot in August, and the racers bring their best to take that first major win of the racing season. 

This past weekend had it all, as people rushed to the historic Bagnell Dam Strip to see the boats, meet the racers, and watch the action. We got to go and check out the setup as the Strip came to life for the race, some of the most impressive machines in the sport on display for fans to feast their eyes.

When I say precision machines, I mean the best of the best. Even sitting still on a trailer, these boats are a sight to look at, with neon electric paint jobs and bodies that shine like glass. You can hear the engines roar from several coves away, and it's a sound almost iconic to the Lake. 

Even so early, the energy at the Strip was high. People were excited- and they didn't even know yet how wild this race would turn out to be. 

All sorts of faces in the boating scene showed up for the crowds, bright eyed and bushy tailed to be involved in the action. 

Speaking of, here's one familiar logo that was absolutely everywhere, and with good reason. Monster Energy is long past the days where it was most recognizable for backwards baseball caps and skateboard stickers- especially in the powerboat racing scene, where their consistent patronage and sponsorship has made them a real fixture. 

Monster certainly made their presence known, the familiar black and neon green slowly becoming its own icon to the sport. I'm interested to see how they continue this trajectory in the years to come, especially with their performance when the races started- a showing they had to be proud to have their image alongside.

And the spectators were frankly pretty cool, themselves. 

Check out the full video below.

THE RACE

So, how did the main event go? Well, how else?

It made a splash. 

The first Pro Class 1 heat on Saturday was a wild spectacle that narrowly avoided true disaster. Tyler Miller and Myrick Coil maintained a strong first place hold in Monster Energy/M-CON, and had a solid lead even during the mayhem that followed, taking top slot in the first heat and carrying that victory into the second the following day, making Monster Energy very happy that their logo was all over the event, I'd imagine. The first heat wasn't just a showcase of the M-CON's pilot and trigger man's exceptional talents, though- in fact, their performance may have been a touch overshadowed, unfortunately. While five boats entered the heat, only three made it to the finish line.

During the first lap, DMR Performance and Outta Pocket/XINSURANCE were accelerating side-by-side when the wind hit them at an unfortunate angle, lifting them both off the water and sending them tumbling. DMR Performance, piloted by Bill Pyburn and Brit Lilly, was the less lucky of the pair, launching wildly into the air and landing down hard. The damage was pretty serious to the boat, but the team behind the controls made it out safely before anyone had to worry for long. The race was re-run with the four remaining teams on Sunday, with Miller and Coil maintaining their top spot. 

Pyburn and Lily weren't discouraged, coming back the next day in their Super Cat and taking a pretty easy first spot. 

Out of sixteen competitors in Super Stock, Nuff Said/Hamilton Princess kept a firm lead starting in lap two and rode it to the win. 

Factory Stock saw another dramatic crash, with HBS Motorsports hitting a wake and went airborne. The drivers got out through the hatch under the boat and were, thankfully, fine. Once they restarted, Miller and Coil for Monster Energy took a strong lead for most of the race, their first Factory Stock race proving to be a solid fit for their skills. Despite Mead Family Racing taking the lead, with Say Less MF hot on their tail, the officials hit them both with a buoy infringement penalty that secured the win for Miller and Coil. 

Crack open a fresh can of Monster for a smashing victory. 

You can explore all the race results in more detail here.

BECOME A PART OF THE FUN

The Lake is a community and a culture, and this sort of excitement is what that culture is all about. If you want to claim your own lakeside bliss, and get close to the action when summer rolls around without having to fight the rush of tourism, contact us to help you find your ideal piece of the Lake of the Ozarks. We have a myriad of incredible options here on this site where you can search for your own luxury lake property, or you can contact us directly.